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ToolsCook, Jonathan, Skovgaard-Smith, Irene, Fitzhugh, Helen and Daniels, Kevin (2026) Actors with purpose: shaping evidence-informed policy in the civil service. In: British Sociological Association Annual Conference 2026, 2026-04-08 - 2026-04-10, Manchester.
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A lack of evidence-based learning has been identified as a persistent challenge in UK government policymaking. The complex policymaking system and competing influences such as ideology and public opinion present challenges to using evidence. Whilst the need for dialogue between research and policy has been recognised, there has been more limited consideration of the actions of key actors at the centre of policymaking. By understanding what shapes their attitudes and behaviours, we can add to the actor-centred perspective on evidence-informed policymaking. The overarching aim of this ongoing research is to improve the understanding of how and why the civil service uses social science evidence in policymaking. Initial interviews (n=19) with civil service policy professionals and analysts, and outside experts were analysed thematically and abductively. This found that ‘evidence’ can include an array of types, but that assembling a case using specific ones may carry more credibility with decision makers. The way policy processes are constructed and perceived, and the interactions and influence of different actors within departments were found to shape the nature of evidence use. Departmental cultures can affect the importance and role given to evidence, and these cultures may be influenced by leaders and by responses to the external policy context such as political volatility and contention. The initial findings provide avenues to explore how actors may engage in purposeful work at professional and organisational boundaries to promote the use of evidence for different levels of policy decision and to affect broader cultures of evidence use.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | evidence-informed policy making,boundary work,organisational culture |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 01 May 2026 13:33 |
| Last Modified: | 01 May 2026 13:33 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/102879 |
| DOI: |
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